Carbohydrate

When these long chains of glucose are digested, they are first broken down by the body into many maltose units. Maltose is a dissacharide molecule made up of two glucose molecules bonded together. After this, the body breaks down the maltose units into single glucose units, clearing the way for glycolysis (the first stage of cellular respiration), and eventually providing us with energy. Don't let the big words fool you, it's really simple. Just lots and lots of sugar arranged in funny ways.

• Primary energy storage molecules in most living things
• Form a variety of structural components in living cells
• Formed by small molecules (Sugars)
• Three principle kinds according to numbers of sugars:
  • Monosaccharides/Disaccharides
  • Storage Polysaccharides
  • Structural Polysaccharides

Car`bo*hy"drate (?), n. [Carbon + hydrate.] Physiol. Chem.

One of a group of compounds including the sugars, starches, and gums, which contain six (or some multiple of six) carbon atoms, united with a variable number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, but with the two latter always in proportion as to form water; as dextrose, C6H12O6.

© Webster 1913.